“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.”
– Coco Chanel
We are in the middle of a societal revolution. We are beginning to see a shift to the celebration of all shapes, sizes, colors, and styles of people and fashion alike.
Yes, there will always be traces of societal conditioning and hundreds of years of oppression and trauma, but we are finally beginning to celebrate diversity in ways we never have before. We are beginning to call attention to how the media has created false and unrealistic beauty standards in the past and even beginning to call attention to normalizing bodily features such as acne, stretch marks, scars, birthmarks, etc. We still have a long way to go, but the long-overdue movement is beginning.
We are also embracing unique and funky fashions and styles for home and clothing design. Everything from modern minimalist to funky 70’s patterns are being worn and celebrated. There is so much room for us to express ourselves however we’d like.
Just as fashion styles and statements come back around every few decades, as messed up as it is, body types seem to do the same. As we continue to evolve as a species, hopefully we will continue to encourage all individuals embracing their bodies and any expression that call to them.
All of this being said, I feel that we sometimes get so caught up in being “spiritual” or only caring about “inward” things and we hide or shun the part of ourselves that wants to show up just for fun, wear the outfit/makeup that makes us feel incredible, or post that spicy selfie. I feel that some of the so called “spiritual” people out there look down on these outward expressions of individuality or consider it frivolous or vain or unnecessary: “Who am I to spend this much time and energy on decorating my home just so, or curating the perfect wardrobe, or perfecting the new makeup trend?”
Our worth does not lie in these things of course, yet we ARE worthy of expressing ourselves fully in EVERY WAY. We don’t look at a flower bush and judge the way it flaunts its flowers, or a rainbow for being too vibrant, or a butterfly for showing off as it effortlessly flies past. Beauty is found everywhere in nature, and we are part of nature! Beauty and all expressions of beauty are part of the human experience! We live on EARTH – an incredibly beautiful and intricate planet!
I truly believe that part of my personal mission on earth is to bring more beauty to the world in whatever way I feel called. It doesn’t have to look like beauty to anyone else but me. When we surround ourselves with colors, textures, smells, flavors, sounds, and anything else that lights us up, we raise our own vibration and therefore the vibration of the planet.
Have you heard of “dopamine dressing” or “dopamine decorating” – the idea of curating a space to intentionally raise your vibration and happiness, or wearing your favorite colors and textures to elevate your mood?
I have also heard to not save the cutest clothes or the fancy dishes for the most special occasions because then they will rarely (or never) be used! Do as you please, but just remember that being alive another day IS a special occasion.
Ultimately, I will own my own home that I can paint exact colors that call to me, and fill with pieces that spark joy, from each dish in the cupboard to the sheets on the bed. I have lived in 14 different homes over the past 12 years and most of them, I have used second hand items, shared with other people, not been able to paint the walls, etc.
At each and every home you abide in, there are opportunities to make it your own. I saw a quote recently: “I can’t wait till I can afford who I really am!” and while this made me laugh, I do think it’s important to remember that no matter what your budget is, there are ways of expressing yourself wherever you go.
I sometimes find myself wishing I was one of those people who puts together the cutest outfits on the daily, but the truth of my life is that I tend to hang out in yoga pants and athletic wear the vast majority of the time. I’ve never learned to curl my hair (totally will someday!), but I DO invest my energy into other areas of my life that bringing beauty to matters to me. I express who I am in other ways, and that’s okay! The idea isn’t to force you to feel obligated to have a “perfect” anything, but to feel worthy of pursuing what beauty calls to you.
When we spend time beautifying ourselves or our space, we feel more confident and able to tackle life. Sometimes all it takes is ten extra minutes or the smallest shift to remember that we are worthy of surrounding ourselves with beauty in every form.
Beauty is not frivolous or unnecessary, but a very valid pursuit and passion, worthy of our time and energy.
YOU are worthy of surrounding yourself with beauty in any form that calls to you, and inviting more of it into your life.
Ask Yourself:
- How do I express beauty in my life?
- What brings me joy in my home, space, or wardrobe?
- What is my favorite place in nature, and what is beautiful about that place?
- What is my favorite town/city and what is beautiful about it to me?
Action Item:
At some point today, sit and spend time truly taking in what is beautiful around you. Notice the colors, smells, sounds, textures, etc. that call to you. Appreciate all of the beauty that surrounds you and invite more beauty into your life.
Resource: A Meditation to Embrace Beauty with Your Senses
Resource: This Week, I Will Look for Beauty Everywhere I Go